A chara, – Kevin McLoughlin (Letters, August 30th) postulates, without any supporting evidence, that if Irish schoolchildren did not study Irish, their ability in continental languages would improve.
In Northern Ireland, Irish is not offered in the vast majority of schools. Since the early 2000s, it has not been a requirement to take any language for GCSE exams and there has been a collapse in the numbers taking languages at GCSE level as evidenced in the British Council’s report, Language Trends Northern Ireland 2021.
This is not a path we should seek to tread. In contrast, small countries which promote their own languages also do well in foreign language teaching; Catalonia and Luxembourg being cases in point.
In this State, gaelcholáistí tend to do very well teaching continental languages. There is a growing number of opportunities to use one’s Irish both in Ireland and at EU level, with particular advantages for those who have Irish, English and an third EU language.
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Language learning also has cognitive benefits and counters the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. – Is mise,
DÁITHÍ
MAC CÁRTHAIGH,
Baile Átha Cliath 7.